While delivering his State of the University address, Lander President Richard Cosentino said, “Our secret is our faculty, but they’re no longer a secret.”

That sentiment is reflected by the news that Dr. Robert F. Stevenson, professor of journalism at Lander, has been named to the Top 25 Communications Professors You Should Know list.

The national listing is compiled by the editorial staff of the Communications-Major.com site,

an online resource for communications students. Honorees were selected based upon their research, past and present teaching engagements, awards and published work.

Joining Stevenson on the list are Pulitzer Prize finalists, political advisors, social media experts, published authors, distinguished journalists and researchers.

“My teaching philosophy is learning-centered as opposed to teaching-centered,” said Stevenson. “I’m mindful of the fact that in today’s multicultural classroom, students possess vastly different experiences, values and attributes, which specifically affect their learning preferences, abilities and potential.”

Published Works 
His published works have appeared in The New York Times, College Media Advisor Review, The South Carolina Historical Magazine, College Media Advisor Review and The Historian, among others.

Stevenson’s commitment to teaching is reflected by his being awarded three of Lander’s faculty awards; Faculty Scholar of the Year (2005), Distinguished Faculty of the Year (2007) and Monica Stranch Endowed Professorship (2008-2011).

Beyond the Classroom: Getting Students Involved
While serving as chair of Lander’s American Democracy Project (ADP), Stevenson urged all Lander students to become civically engaged in their communities and to make volunteering an integral part of their lives.

Because of his work with ADP, Lander was featured in the New York Times and recognized on the American Association of State Colleges and Universities website. Stevenson received an award for registering more students to vote than any of the other 77 participating colleges and universities.

Leading by example, Stevenson has organized a host of campus-wide events, including Lander’s tsunami relief effort (2005), a humanitarian campaign for providing supplies to victims of Hurricane Katrina, a mock presidential debate and Lander’s annual celebration of Constitution Day.

The Creation of Greenwood Calendar
In 2013, Stevenson created Greenwood Calendar, an online hub for upcoming Greenwood events, news and videos. He has produced a host of video productions for a variety of community offices for the site, including:

• Mayor of Greenwood
• City and County Managers
• Sheriff’s Office
• Chamber of Commerce
• Greenwood Humane Society
• School District 50